"He shouldn’t believe his own hype" - Boris Becker on Carlos Alcaraz

The six-time Grand Slam champion Becker has issued a warning to one of the sport's most promising young players.

Teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz must take a measured approach to the upcoming clay swing in order to prevent the threat of injury derailing him, according to former world No.1 Boris Becker. The 18-year-old Spaniard has enjoyed a breakthrough start to the 2022 season where he has rewritten the record books.

Becker is more cautious when it comes to what lies ahead for Alcaraz in the near future. During an interview with Eurosport, the German has urged the world No.11 to take a break from the Tour ahead of Roland Garros and believes he must not ‘believe his own hype.’

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He said:

“He must not believe his own hype now. He’s not the best yet. He is the high-flyer of the scene. The way he played this year, there was only one player who was better and he is also from Spain (Nadal). But the clay court season is exhausting, the matches are longer.“

Becker further said:

"I hope he doesn’t play Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and also Rome, because then it’s too much for my taste.“He has to take a break because he’s only human and he’s also tired sometimes. When you continue to play tired, the first injuries occur. It is very important to find the fine line between what is good in tournaments and matches and what is too much?”

Becker seemed to be onto something as Alcaraz dissapointed heavily aginst Korda in Monte-Carlo.